This Philips technology is exactly the type of device shown in the motion picture “Red Planet“. Remember the electronic roll-up map that the characters use to check their location after they crash on the Red planet?
It is not surprising that motion picture props designers spend so much time researching the technologies demonstrated in the movies, just to add a sense of believability to the movies that they are designing for. While at the same time the designers also offer the audience a bit of imagination for the future by extending these technologies to the edge of realism and practical use.
Similarly in the movie “Minority Report” Tom Cruise was moving objects around on the screen just by waving his hands in front of the screen using gestures.
Here are some photos of the Philips device from Engadget.